Two influential bikers' groups are at odds over a police clamp-down on motorcyclists, reports Beth Broomby.

The split comes in the wake of a police operation at Kirkby Lonsdale's popular biker meeting spot at Devil's Bridge on May 20, which saw a

number of bikers booked for offences ranging from defective or illegal exhausts to illegal-sized number plates and unsuitable visors.

The British Motorcycle Federation (a riders' rights group) has criticised the police operation - but the Kendal branch of the Motorcycle Action Group has come out in support of the clamp-down.

In recent years bikers had begun to work alongside the police and ambulance service on road safety projects such as Bikesafe 2000 in a bid to cut the deathtoll on the region's scenic country roads, which act as a magnet to hundreds of riders every summer.

Police claim that while Bikesafe is generally about education, the project also includes the enforcement of legislation and, as such, the Devil's Bridge exercise was in keeping with Bikesafe's aims.

However, a letter from the British Motorcycle Federation, posted at an information board at Devil's Bridge, criticised police action and urged

bikers to write letters of complaint.

However, the Kendal branch of the Motorcycle Action Group has come out in support of the police.

MAG chairman Andy Britton said the group did not see the operation as "victimisation" but rather as a sensible move to improve road safety.

"Full vehicle checks are often carried out on other road user groups throughout the country, such as HGVs and private cars so motorcyclists are not the only ones to suffer this kind of invasive action," he said.

"I am surprised and dismayed at the small-mindedness of the BMF rep who is screaming "victimisation".

As a member of a rights group, I would expect more from him.

The actions of the police on May 20 can only lead to a safer environment for bikers."

Acting Inspector Phil Bonney of South Cumbria Mobile Support said: "Checks such as those which target specific classes of vehicle are not only regularly conducted throughout Cumbria but also on a countrywide basis.

" In this instance it was included as part of the Bikesafe initiative.

It is not the intention of the force to penalise responsible riders."

Coun Barclay Stainton, of Kirkby Lonsdale, said: "Devil's Bridge has a nationwide reputation as a biker meeting spot.

The town needs the trade but the sheer volume of bikers coming here means we need to get the balance right between their needs and the needs of residents and traders."

BMF spokesman Jeff Stone said his group sees the police's actions as harrasment and described the purge as persecution.

"What harm are we doing?" he said.

"The police are perfectly entitled to do a vehicle check but what we want to do is to make sure that the grounds were legitimate and bikers were not being stopped for the sake of it to make a venue unpopular." The BMF has written to the Chief Constable of Cumbria, Colin Phillips, asking for an explanation.

Police and other agencies carried out another check at Devil's Bridge on Sunday and 17 bikers were issued with delayed prohibition notices, ten were reported for excise offences and a number were reported for summons.